Roundabout.



H. O. HAMILTON & S. J. P. SWALLENDER.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908 4 SHEBTSSHEET 1.

"WIN

H. O. HAMILTON & S. J. P. SWALLENDBR.

ROUNDABOUT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9 1908, 906,625 Patented Dec. 15. 1908 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 H. O. HAMILTON & S. J. P. SWALLENDER.

ROUNDABOUT. APPLICATION FILED MM, 9, 1908,

Patented Dec. 15, 1908 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 UJ/ r n,

H. 0. HAMILTON & S. J. P. SWALLENDER.

ROUNDABOUT. APPLICATION FILED MAR.9,1908.

Patented Dec. 15. 1908 4 SHEBTSSHEET 4 nmml'iiiiif W J UNITED S'FKTEEEENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. HAMILTON AND SWANTE J. I. SWALLENDER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO UNITED STATES AMUSEMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ROUNDABOUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY O. HAMIL- TON and SWANTE J. P. SWALLENDER, citizens of the United States of America and resi-' dents of Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Roundabouts, of which the f0 lowin is a specification.

This invention re ates to that class of amusement apparatus usually termed carousels, and in which the leasure seeker is carried in a suitable veliicle or support, which in turn has movement in a circular ath. And the present improvements have or their various objects :-to provide a simple and efficient structural arrangement and combination of parts whereb individual groups of passenger carrying veliicles or supports are given a travel around a local axis at the same time that the series of groups have movement around a main axis; to provide means whereby the loading and unloading of one group of the vehicles or so ports can be safely and rapidly attained wit out disturbing the normal movements of the remaining groups; to provide a curtain moving in a direction opposite to the travel of said groups and adapted to give an illusive impression to the riders that they are moving at a high speed, and to provide a moving platform beneath said groups of vehicles or supports adapted to impart local movement to the iiidividual vehicles or supports, and at the same time and in connection with the travel ing curtain aforesaid aid in the illusion of the riders that they are moving at a high speed, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure I is a plan view illustrating the general arrangement of the present apparatus, the stationary skeleton inclosing frame being omitted for better illustration of the mechanisms. Fig. 2, is a side view of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail perspective views of the automatic trip mechanism by which an individual group of vehicles or supports are released from traveling engagement with the driving means by which they are normally moved. Fig. 5, is a detail vertical section on line :c:1: Fig. I. Fig. 6, is a detail perspective view of the runway for the traveling curtain, and by which such curtain is raised at entrance of the apparatus. Fig. 7, is a detail vertical section of the loading platform. Fi s. 8 and 9, are detail perspective views of t e latch mechanism for connecting the loading platform and the carrying flame of a group of vehicles, so that the same will move togather in a manual movement of said pl=dorm. Fig. 10, is an elevation partly in section of one of the vehicles or trailing carts.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a stationary circular wall or fence around which the movable portion of the apparatus travels, and such wall may carry a panoramic scene, as usual in the present class of pleasure apparatus.

2 is an annular platform, sup )orted to travel in a circular path around t ie wall 1 upon suitable circular tracks 3 or other usual and ordinary means.

4 is a stationary annular framework inclosing the traveling platform2, and ail'ording support for the different arts of the apparatus hereinafter describe 5 is an endless annular curtain of textile or like flexible material arranged outside the travelin platform 2 to form the outer inclosure or the same. Such curtain may like the wall or fence I carry a panoramic scene, and is adapted to have a circular travel in the direction the same as the moving platform 2, and to such end is attached to an overhead circular bar 6 sup iorted by track wheel 7 on a stationary circu ar track 8, carried on the stationary frame 4, aforesaid; motion inipartcd to the circular bar 6, by the driving mechanism hereinafter described.

The flexible nature of the curtain 5 is a material art of the present construction,.in that it. Elt mits of the curtain being automatically raised and carried over the driveway through which passengers enter and leave the a paratus such automatic operation being e ected by the following means:

9, is a stationary header arranged above said doorway and having inclined ends as shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, such header is of an open to channel form and is adapted to receive tie curtain and fold the same in its passage along the header leaving the space or doorway beneath the header free and unobstructed.

10, are a series of weights or balls secured to the lower end of the curtain for the purpose of aiding in holding the curtain in its normally dependin con ition.

11, are a series 0 trucks arranged in. circularly spaced relation above the traveling platform 2, and supported by track wheels IUU 12 upon stationary circular tracks 13, so as to travel in a circular path above said platform in the normal operation of the appa ratus.

14, is a circular rack traveling on roller bearings 15 on the stationary frame 4, and provided with a series of ivoted fingers 16 ada ted to engage behin stops 17 on the true 11, to cause said trucks to move in unison with said rack 14, while the fingers 16 are in engagement with the sto )S 17.

18, is a cam se ment carrier by the stationary frame 4 a ove and adjacent to the doorway before described, and in the path of the aforesaid pivoted fingers 16. Such cam segment is adapted to disengage the finger 16 from engagement with the sto 17 of a particular truck 11, as said trucli reaches the doorway, leaving the truck stationary at such point for the loading and unloading operations hereinafter more particularly described.

19, are a series of central vertical shafts journaled in the trucks 11 and carrying at their upper ends gear wheels 20 having operative en agement with operating means hereinafter escribed, and ca g at their lower ends the series of carrying eads or s iders of the groups of passen er ca ing ve icles or supports now to be escribe 21, are the heads or s idem, above referred to, and secured to he lower ends of the vertical shafts 19 so as to rotate therewith in a plane above the traveling platform 2. a

22 are clusters of sus ension rods depending from .the series of eads or spiders 21 aforesaid, and each cluster comprising a circularl arranged group of said rods individua to a single head or spider 21, as shown. The connection between the said rods and the heads or spiders is referably made by latch mechanisms 23, of any ordinary form which will ermit of ready lateral removal of the rods w ien required in the repair, over hauling, etc., of the ap aratus.

24, are theseries of passen er carrying vehicles or supports of any usuiil form, preferably of the trailin cart form shown, the forward part of whic 1 is formed by an elli y of a runnin horse 25, to which a yoke at t w lower end of the particular suspension rod 22 is attached as shown.

Arranged in the manner above described, a series of individual groups of vehicles travel in rotation around the main axis of the apparatus, and at the same time each group has an individual rotation around its own axis, and as so arranged the illusion is given to the passengers in a group that they are constantly changin from a slow to a fast part of the track, an vice versa, and are repeatedly gaining and losing on each other, as in a horse race.

26, is the loading platform of a segmental form, arranged immediately adj-accnt'to and above the traveling platform 2, and held in disconnected relation thereto by one or more hanger straps 27 carrying track wheels 27 on their upper ends; sur'h (rack wheels in turn moving on a horizontal segmental track 28 carried by the inner circular wall or fence 1. At its outer end said platform is supported by track Wheels 2!) moving on a ground track, as shown in l ig. 7. 'lhv load ing platform 26 is adapted to receive in succession each individual group of vehicles or supports 24 as they reach the entrance or doorway of the apparatus, and the arrange ment is such that as a particular group of vehicles move onto the loading platform, the driving mechanism throu h which said group had movement in a circular path, as well as the mechanism through which the group had a circular travel around a local axis, are re leased so that the said grou of vehicles will be left stationary upon the oading platform for the purpose of unloading and reloading.

With the completion of the reloading of the group of vehicles, the loading platform is manually moved in the direction of travel to bring the said group of vehicles back into operative engagement with the sets of 0 erating mechanisms above referred to, an in order to insure a movement of said group of vehicles in unison with the manually effected movement of the loading platform, a latch mechanism as follows is employed:

31, is a gravity dog pivoted to the ban er strap 27 o the'loading platform, and un er which a fixed projection 32 carried on the truck frame 11 of each roup of vehicles, is adapted to ride as see individual group comes to rest on the loading platform and so as to be in line for en' agement with said gravity dog 31, as the oading platform is manually moved in manner above stated.

33, is a countershaft receiving rotation through suitable intermediate gearing from a power source 35. Such shaft carries a spur wheel 36 meshing with an annular gear rim 37 attached to the platform 2, to impart circular travel thereto. 38, is a companion countershaft receiving rotation in like manner from the ower source 35, and provided with a spur w 1eel39 in mesh with an annular gear on the circular bar 6 carrying the endless curtain 5 before described, and adapted to impart circular travel thereto. 40, is another countershaft receiving rotation from the power source 35 and provided with a spur wheel 41, in mesh with an annular gear of the circular rack 14, to impart circular travel thereto, and in turn to the series of trucks ll before described.

42, is a mutilated annular gear secured to the stationary frame 4 and meshing with the series of gear wheels 20, before described, and adapted in the circular travel of the trucks 11 to impart individual rotation to the heads or spiders 21 carried by said trucks, and a loca travel of the suspension rods 22 and trailing carts 24 around a local axis individual to each group as before set forth. The mutilation of the annular gear 42 is located above the loading platform 26, so that the local rotation of the group of trailing carts 24'Will cease while the same are on the loading platform.

ith a view to aid in the rapid loading and unloading of the series of trailing carts 24, in each group, the back 43 of each cart body is hinged at bottom to said cart body, and provided with a lateral board 44 midway its height. Such board in the normal position of the back as shown in full lines in Fig. 10, constitutes the seat of the vehicle, and when swung down into the position shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 10 constitutes a stop for the passengers mounting and dismounting from the cart. I

45, is an eccentric carried on the axle of a trailing cart 24, and adapted, through the bar 46, to impart a rocking movement to the horse eiligy 25 in the normal operation of the apparatus.

The general operation of the apparatus is as followsz Assuming the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 with a group of passenger vehicle or supports in a stationary condition on the leading platform, to ermit of the safe and convenient loading of t e assengers into said vehicles. With the loa ing accomplished, the operator shifts the loading platform around to the right, and until the end of the cam segment 18 is passed, allowing the pivoted finger 16 to drop into engagement with the stop 17 in. the truck 11 carrying said roup of vehlcles, and so that the roup of veiicles will be in engagement wit the continuously moving circular rack 14, to be carried therewith around the main axis of the apparatus. With the commencement of-said travel around the main axis, the gear wheel 20 of the group comes into engagement with the mutilated rack 42, and accordingly the said group willreceive rotation around its local axis. The two rotations just described in connection with the oppositely moving platform 2 and curtain 5 are adapted to give a very vivid impression or illusion to the passengers that they are movin at a very rapid rate, and that the pace at w ich they are 0- ing is constantly changing, with one ahea at one time and behind. at another, in manner similar to a horse race. During the progress. of the travel of the individual group just described, the next succeeding group, comes onto the loading platform, becomes stationary, is unloaded and again reloaded, and

' finally moved into operative engagement with the driving mechanisms, to follovi the circuit, and so on with the entire series of groups, and a continued repetition of the operations above described with each succeeding group as the loading platform is reached.

Having thus fully described our said invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of groups of passenger. vehicles, means for imparting movement to the same in a circular path, means for imparting rotation to each group around a local axis,and a platform traveling ina direction opposite to said groups.

2. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of groups of trailing passenger vehicles means for imparting movement to the same in a circular path, means for imparting rctation to each group around a local axis, and a platform traveling in a direction opposite to said groups. l

3. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of groups of passenger vehicles, means for imparting movement to the same in a circular path, means for imparting rotation to each group around a local axis, a platform traveling in a direction opposite to said grou s, and a traveling curtain inclosing said plat orm. l

4. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of groups of trailing passenger vehicles means for imparting movement tothe same in a circular path, means for im arting rotation to each group around a localhaxis, a platform traveling in a direction opposite to said grou s, and a traveling curtain inclosing said plat .orm.

5. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of groups of passenger vehicles, means for imparting movement to the same in a cir- -cular path, means for imparting rotation to each group around a local axis, a platform travehng in a direction opposite to said groups, a flexible traveling'curtain inclosing said platform, and an overhead runway adapted to en a e and raise the curtain at the entrance 0 t e apparatus.

6. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of groups of trailing passenger vehicles means for imparting'movement to the same in a circular path, means for im arting rotation to each group around a loca axis, a platform traveling in a direction ofpposite to said groups, and a loading lat orm arranged above said traveling p at orm.

7. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of groups of passenger vehicles, means for imparting movement to the same in a circular path, means for imparting rotation to each roup around a local axis, a platform traye g in a direction op osite to said groups, and a loadin lat orm arranged above said traveling pfat orm.

8. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of groups of passenger vehicles, means for imparting movement to the same in a circular path, means for imparting rotation to each roup around a local axis, a platform trave mg in a direction opposite to said groups, a flexible traveling curtain inclosing said platform, an overhead runway adapted to engage and raise the curtain at the entrance of the apparatus, and a loading platform arranged above said traveling platform.

9. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular path, circular tracks supporting said trucks, a power driven annular rack, latch fingers on said rack, stops on the trucks adapted for engagement with said latch fingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disengage said fingers from said stops, and a series of passen er vehicles carried by said trucks.

10. n a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular path, circular tracks supporting said trucks, a power driven annular rack, latch fingers on said rack, sto )s on the trucks adapted for engagement wit 1 said latch iingers, a stationary carnsegment adapted to disengage said fingers from said stops, a series of passenger vehicles carried by said trucks, a latlorm arranged beneath said vehicles and having movement in a direction opposite thereto, and a loading platform arranged above said movable platform.

1 1. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular path, circuiar tracks supporting said trucks, a ower driven annular rack, latch fingers on said rack, stops on the trucks adapted for engagement with said latch lingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disengage said fingers from said stops, and a traveling curtain inclosing said series of vehicles.

12. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular path, circular tracks supporting said trucks, a ower driven annular rack, latch fingers on said rack, stops on the trucks adapted for engagement with said latch fingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disengage said fingers from said stops, a flexible traveling curtain inclosing said vehicles, and an overhead runway adapted to engage and raise said curtain at the entrance of the apparatus.

13. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular path, circular tracks supporting said tracks, a power driven circular rack, latch fingers on said rack, stops on the trucks adapted for engagement with said latch lingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disengage said fingers from said stops, central shafts journaled in said trucks and )rovidcd with. gear wheels, a stationary mutilated rack meshing with said gears, heads or spiders attached to the lower ends of the central shafts, a circular cluster of depending rods carried by each head or spider, and a series of passenger vehicles attached to said cluster of rods.

14. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circuln r path, circular tracks supporting said trucks, a power driven circular rack, latch lingers on said rack, sto )S on the trucks adapted for engagement Wit said latch fingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disengage said lingers from said stops, central shafts journaled in said trucks and provided with gear wheels, in stationary mutilated rack meshing with said gears, heads or spiders attached in the lower ends of the central shafts, a circular cluster of depending rods carried by each head or s )ider, and a series of trailing passengcr vehic es attached to said cluster.

15. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular path, circular tracks supporting said trucks, a power driven circular rack, latch fingers on said rack, stops on the trucks adapted for engagement with said latch fingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disenga e said fingers from said stops, central sha ts journaled in said trucks and provided with gear wheels, a stationary mutilated rack meshing with said gears, heads or spiders attached to the lower ends of the central shafts, a circular cluster of depending rods carried by each head or s ider, a series of passenger vehicles attachet to said cluster of rods, and a platform traveling in a direction opposite to said vehicles.

16. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular path, circular tracks supporting said trucks, a )ower driven circular rack, latch fingers on said rack, stops on the, trucks adapted for engagement with said latch lingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disengage said fingers lrom said stops, central shafts journaled in said trucks and provided with gear wheels, a stationary mutilated rack meshing with said gears, heads or spiders attached to the lower ends of the central shafts, a circular cluster of depending rods carried by each head or spider, a series of trailing iassengcr vehicles attached to said cluster cl rods, and a platform traveling in a direction opposite to said vehicles.

17. in a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular path, circular tracks supporting said trucks, a power driven circular rack, latch fingers on sand rack, stops on the trucks adapted for engagement with 'said latch fingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disengage said lingers from said stops, central shafts journuled in said trucks and provided with gear wheels, a stationary mutilated rack meshing with said gears, heads or spiders attached to the lower ends of the central shafts, a circular cluster of depending rods l carried by each head or spider, a series of passenger vehicles attached to said cluster of rods, a platform traveling in a direction opposite to said vehicles, an a traveling curtain inclosing said platform.

' 18. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a-circular path, circular tracks supporting said trucks, a ower driven circular rack, latch fingers on said rack, stops on the trucks adapted for engagement with said latch fingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disenga e said fingers from said stops, central sha ts journaled in said trucks and provided with gear wheels, a stationary mutilated rack meshing with said gears, heads or spiders attached to the lower ends of .the central shafts, a circular cluster of depending rods carried by each head or spider, a series of trailing passenger vehicles attached to said cluster of rods, a platform traveling in a direction opposite to said vehicles, and a traveling curtain inclosing said platform.

19. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular path, circular tracks supporting said trucks, a ower driven circular rack, latch fingers on saidrack, stops on the trucks adapted for engagement with said latch fingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disengage said fingers from said stops, central shafts journaled in said trucks and provided with gear wheels, a stationary mutilated rack meshing. with said gears, heads or spiders attached to the lower ends of the central shafts, a circular cluster of depending rods carried by each head or s ider, a series of passenger vehicles attache to said cluster of rods, a platform traveling in a direction opposite to said vehicles, a flexible traveling curtain inclosing said platform, and an overhead runway adapted to engage and raise the curtain at the entrance of the apparatus.

.20. In a roundabout,the combinationof a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular ath, circular tracks supporting said truc s, a power driven circular rack, latch fingers on said rack, stops on the trucks adapted for engagement with said latch fingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disengage said fingers from said stops, central shafts journaled in said trucks and provided with gear wheels, a stationary mutilated rack meshing with said gears, aeads or spiders attached to the lower ends of the central shafts, a circular cluster of depending rods carried by each head or spider, a series of passenger vehicles attached to said cluster of rods, a platform travelin in a direction 0 posite to said vehicles, and a loading plat orm arranged above said traveling platform.

21. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular path, circular tracks supporting sa1d trucks, a ower driven circular rack, latch fin ers on said rack, sto s on the trucks adapted or engagement wit said latch fingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disengage said fingers from said stops, central shafts ournaled in said trucksand provided withgearwheels, astationary mutilated rack mes ing with said gears, heads or spiders attached to the lower ends of the central shafts, a circular cluster of depending rods carried by each head or spider, a series of trailing passenger vehicles attached to said cluster 0 rods, a platform traveling in a direction opposite to said vehicles, and a loading plat orm arranged above said travelin platform.

22. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular path, circular tracks supporting said trucks, a power driven circular rack, latch fingers on said rack, stops on the trucks adapted for engagement with said latch fingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disen age said fingers from said stops, central :ihafts journaled in said trucks and provided with gear wheels, a stationary mutilated rack meshing with said gears, heads or spiders attached to the lower ends of the-central shafts, a circular cluster of depending rods carried by each head or spider, a series of passenger vehicles attached to said cluster of rods, a platform traveling in a direction opposite to said vehicles, a flexible traveling curtain inclosing said platform, an overhead runway adapted to engage and raise the curtain at the entrance of the apparatus, and a loading platform arranged a ove said traveling platform.

23. In a roundabout, the combination of a series of trucks adapted to move in a circular path, circular tracks supporting said trucks, a ower driven annular rack, latch fingers on said rack, stops on the trucks adapted for engagement with said latch fingers, a stationary cam segment adapted to disengage said fingers from said sto s, a series of passenger vehicles carried y said trucks, a

latform arranged beneath said vehicles and aving a movement in a direction 0 posite thereto, a loading platform arrange above said movable platform, a gravity dog carried by said loading platform, and stops on the trucks adapted to be en aged by said dog.

Signed at Chicago, I linois, this 7 day of March 1908.

HENRY O. HAMILTON. SWANTE J. P. SWALLENDER.

Witnesses:

FORBES CADENHEAD, A. L. MoEvILLY. 

